Excelsior College History

In 2011, Excelsior College celebrated 40 years in operation.

Excelsior College was founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents and was originally known as Regents College. Initial development of the College was funded by major grants from the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation. From 1971 until 1998, Regents College operated as a program of the Board of Regents (which also served as its board of trustees) and under the authority of The University of the State of New York by which degrees and diplomas were awarded during that period.

In April 1998, the Board of Regents granted the College a charter to operate as a private, nonprofit, independent institution and on January 1, 2001, Regents College changed its name to Excelsior College. Today, an independent board of trustees governs Excelsior College and it is comprised of prominent individuals in the fields of education, business, and the professions from across the United States.